Sony to Buy Gracenote

Ian Lamont writes "Sony is buying Gracenote for $260 million. Sony will use Gracenote's online music database in its own digital content and devices, but Gracenote will operate separately and keep its own management. It's an interesting move, because many other entertainment companies and services depend on the Gracenote database, including iTunes, Yahoo, Winamp, and even the onboard stereo system used in some new Cadillacs. Gracenote has been criticized for turning the once-open CDDB project into a 'quagmire of heavy contracts, licensing fees, forced user registration and anti-competition clauses.'"

Comments

Did you hear the sound loop on

[zappepcs]

the news announcement of the purchase? Yep, it was the sound of a flushing toilet (American Standard if I heard it right). Why a flushing toilet? Because Sony just flushed another part of the Internet multimedia experience down the shitter. All we can do now is watch it slowly slide into oblivion.

These days, even though Sony is huge and not all parts or employees are particularly evil, I don't think I'd even use their batteries as a paperweight on my desk.

Re:You've Got It All Wrong!

[staticneuron]

Why is there a problem to that? First and foremost they are an electronics company. Don't like the fact that their camera's use memory sticks, or their PSP use UMD's? Don't by the hardware. It is that simple. For those who do not care, it isn't a big deal. What I am trying to figure out is where is the hate for the DRM on itunes media, the social for the zune, XD memory? Why is it ok to hate only on Sony for doing something that other companies do?